Latching device



F. A. FALK LATCHING DEVICE July 6 1926.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

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H INVENTOR. flab,

, ATTORNEY.

Ran/3A July 6 1926. 1,591,666

F. A. FALK LATCHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 10, 1925 2 SheetsSheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

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9 BY M; 6 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 6, 1926.

FRANK A. FALK, OF STACYVILLE, IOWA.

LATCHING- DEVICE.

Application filed December 10, mesiseriai No. 74,506.

This invention relates to a latching device for use in connection with the hinged sections of the engine hood or bonnet of a motor vehicle, and has for its object to provide a device of such class, in a manner as hereinafter'set forth, with means arranged intcriorly of and operated from the exterior of a hinged section of the engine hood or bonnet for detachably latching such section in closed position. 4

Further objects of the invention are to provide a latching device, of the class re ferred to, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, having its latching and releasing elements concealed, reducing the rattling of the hood or bonnet section to a minimum when it is latched in position, thoroughly efficient and convenient in its use, having its latching members and the releasing means for these latter protected by the hood section, readily installed with respect to the engine hood or bonnet, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a side elevation of an engine hood showing the adaptation therewith of a latching device therefor, in accordance with this invention, and with the elements of the device arranged inwardly with respect to the hood section illustrated in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, in eleva tion, of an engine hood looking towards the inner face of one of the hinged sections of the hood and illustrating the latching members and the releasing means therefor, and with the hinged section of the hood latched.

Figure 3- is a view similar to Figure 2 with the hinged section of the hood released;

Figure 4 is a section "on line 44, Figure 1. i

Figure 5 is a section on line 55, Fi ure 1.

Figure 6' is a section on line 6-6, Figure 5.

Referring-to the drawings in detail, the engine hood or bonnet of the motor vehicle is indicated generally by the reference character 1, the radiator at 2, and one of the side bars of the chassis at 3. -As is well known, the engine hood or bonnet of a motor vehicle is set up with two hinged sections,- one at each side thereof, so that access can be had to the engine when the section is swung outwardly, and each section is provided, exteriorly thereof, with means for detachably securing the section in closed position. The drawings illustrate the adaptation of a latching device, in accordance with this invention, with but one hinged section of the engine hood, but it is to be understood that a latching device is to be employed with each of the hinged sections of the hood. The hinged section illustrated is indicated at 4, and is hinged as at 5. The radiator 2 as well as the inner end of the hood 1 is rabbeted, as at 6, to provide seats for the ends of the hinged section, as well as providing means whereby the outer face of the hinged section will be flush with the inner end of the hood 1 and outer face of the radiator 2.

Mounted on the side bar 3 of the chassis is an inverted T-shaped member formed of a centrally disposed, vertically extending leg 7 and a pair of oppositely extending legs 8, 9, disposed at right angles with respect to the lower end of the lug 7. The leg 9 terminates in a depending lip 10-, which abuts against the rear edgeof the side bar 3. The inverted T-shaped member provides what may be termed a combined guide and anchoring element. The leg 8 projects outwardly from the leg 7 and the leg 9 extends inwardly from the leg 7. The

lower terminal portion 11 of a front wheel groove 15, and the wall of the latter' is formed with an opening 16.: The functionof the grooves 15 will be presently referred to. The leg 7 provides a guide for the lower portion of the section 4, as well as an The'leg 9, in

abutment to prevent the lower portion of the section 4 from swinging inwardly when such section is latched, and furthermore said leg .7 acts as a closure between the lower end of the section 4 and the leg 8 when the section 4 is in latched position.

A pair of latching members is employed and each of which consists of a resilient body portion 17 and a hook 18 extended from the upper end of the body portion 17 and projecting forwardly at an inclination. The body portion 17 is formed from a coiled spring of substantial length and has its lower coil extended through the opening 16 and seated in the groove 15 formed in the lower face of the leg 9 and by this arrangement the latching member is anchored in position. Each latching member is arranged in close proximity to the leg 7.

Carried by theinner face of the section 4, near the bottom'thereof is .a shiftable holding element coacting with the latching members for maintaining the section 4 in latched position. The holding element consists of' a shaft 20, provided in proximity to each end thereof with a crank 21 engageable with a latching member for the purpose of latching the section 4 in closed position. The shaft 21,,centra-1ly thereof, is provided with a crank 22 connected with a shifting element to be presently referred to for the shaft 20. Secured to the inner face of the section 4, near the bottom thereof, are pairs of spaced barrels 23, which provide bearings for the shaft 20.

The shifting element for the shaft 20 consists of an upstanding rod, referred to generally' by the reference-character 24 having the major portion of its length bent to-extend at opposite inclinations, as at 25, 26,

. is formed with an opening 31, through which extends. an operating shaft 32. Se

cured to the inner face of the section 4, be-

low the opening 31, by the hold-fast devices 33 is an upstanding offset arm 34, which provides" a bearing as well as a support,

to the shaft 32 so that when the latter is turned the crank arm '30 will be carried therewith. Mounted on the shaft 32 and interposed between the crank arm 30 and section 4 is a spacing member 36. The shaft 32 projects forwardly from the section 4, and is provided with a stop disk 37 exteriorly of the section 4, and carried by and extended from the disk 37 is a handle member 38.

The crank arm 30 not only provides means for actuating the shifting element for the shaft20, but further provides means when it is shifted to the position shown in Figure 2. to lock the holding element in its position of latching engagement with respect to the latching members. When the crank arm 30 is shifted to the position shown in Figure 2 to lock the holding ele- 1 ment, the handle member 38 is in lowered position as shown in full linesin Figure 1. When it is desired to unlatch the section 4, the handle member 38 is moved to the dotted line position shown in Figure 3 and which 1 shifts the eccentric 30 to the full line position shown in Figure 3, causing thereby the shaft 20 to rock in a direction so that the cranks 2l will be shifted downwardly and away from the hooks 18, as shown in Figure line position shown in Figure 1, which rocks the shaft 20 in the opposite direction and provides for the cranks 21 to engage with the hooks 18,and which are held in such position by the locking action of the crank arm 30, whereby, the section 4 is detachably latched in position. i

It is thought the many advantages of a latching device for the hinged sections of an en me hood or bonnet, in accordance with t is invention, can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. v

What I claim is I 1. A latching device for the hinged sections of the engine hood of a motor vehicle comprising a pair of latching members adapted to be connected with the chassis of the vehicle and positioned interiorly with respect to the hood section, a holding element adapted to be carried by the inner face of the hoodsection and coacting with said members for latching the section in closed position, a shifting element for said holding element, a crank arm arranged interiorly of the hood section for operatmg said shiftin element to move said holding element to an from holding osition and further for locking said hol ing element in engagement with said members, means operated exteriored from the hood section the crank arm ing wlth said ly of the hood section and connected with for operating the same, and said holdin element consisting of a rock shaft provi ed with a pair of cranks coactmembers for latching the hood section in closed position.

2. A latching device for the hinged sections of the engine hood of a motor vehicle comprising a pair of spaced latching members adapted to be connected with the chas-' sis of the vehicle and positioned interiorly with respect to the hood section, a pivoted holding element adapted to be carried by the inner face of the hood section, common to and coacting simultaneously with said members for latching the section in closed position, a shifting element for said holding element, a crank arm arranged interiorly of the hood section element to move said holding element to and from holding position and further; for looking said holding element in en agement with said members, means operate exteriorly of the hood section and connected interiorly of the latter crank arm for operating the same, and each of said latching members consisting of a resilient body portion provided with a hook coacting with the holding element to maintain the hood section in closed position.

tions of an engine hood comprising a pair of spaced resilient latching members positioned interiorly with respect to the hinged section of the hood, a combined guide and anchoring element adapted to be secured with the chassis of the vehicle, said element common to and provided with means for anchoring the lower ends of said members and further with means to constitute an abutment for and arranged inwardly of the lower portion of the hood section, a holding element adapted to be carried by the hood section, interiorly thereof, said holding element common to and coacting simultaneously with said members for la-tchin the hood section, means positioned interiorly of and supportfor operating the holding element to and from holding position and further for locking I holding position, and means operated exteriorly of the hood section and provided with an inwardly extending shaft connected With said first mentioned means for operating the same.

for operating said shifting first mentioned a pair of spaced 3. A latching device for the hinged sea the same in wlth means to constitute an abutment for and arranged inwardly of the lower portion of the hood section, a holding element adapted to be carried by orly thereof, said holding element common to and coacting simultaneously with said members for latching the hood section, means positioned interiorly of and supported from the hood section for operating the holding element to and from holding position and further for locking the same in holding position, means operated exteriorly of the hood section and provided with an inwardly extending shaft connected with said means for operating the same, and said holding element consisting of a rock shaft provided with a pair of cranks coactin with said latching members.

5. A atchin device for the hinged section of a motor ve icle engine hood comprising latching members including means for anchoring them to the chassis of the vehicle inwardly with respect to the hood section, a holding element pivotally connected to the inner face of the hood section, common to said members and including means to simultaneously coac-t with said members for latching the hood section in closed position forwardly of said members, an upstanding shiftable element of angular contour connected at its lower end to the holding element for shifting it on its pivot in opposite directions, means arranged interiorly of the hood section. and having its outer end connected to the upper end of the shaftable element for actuating it to operate the holding element, and pivotally mounted means extending through the hood section, operated from the exterior thereof and having its inner end connected to the inner end of the actuating means for the shiftable element for operating said actuating means.

the hood section, interihereto.

FRANK A. FALK. 

